Four-goal Ibrahimovic wheels out party tricks

Henry Winter

STOCKHOLM: Just when the England fans started ironically serenading the pony-tailed Zlatan Ibrahimovic with ''You're just a shit Andy Carroll'', the Swedish forward moved up a gear, adding to his first-half goal with three late gems, including a strike that defied geometry, let alone belief.

Ibrahimovic's first was a poacher's finish, his second an emphatic shot, his third a 30 metre free kick. England had not conceded a hat-trick since the marvellous Marco van Basten gave Tony Adams nightmares in 1988. It needed something special to go one step beyond that and Ibrahimovic delivered in spectacular style.

It was his fourth goal that will linger long in the memory, that will be saluted around the world. He was out on the right, Joe Hart's poor clearance dropping towards him. Hart was off his line but the angle was still ludicrously tight.

It needed technique, imagination and a sense of outrageous boldness to attempt what Ibrahimovic did, sending the ball back in with a sensational overhead kick. A beautiful goal capped a brutal end to the friendly for England on Thursday, a first defeat for Roy Hodgson. With Steven Gerrard on the pitch, England played with urgency and there were moments of promise from Raheem Sterling, Steven Caulker and Leon Osman, but Gerrard's withdrawal removed organisation and resilience, and Ibrahimovic pounced and pounced and pounced.

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England took half an hour to get going. In that time, they conceded to Ibrahimovic and it could have been worse - such was the nervous nature of their defending.

Ibrahimovic struck after 20 minutes, and England were authors of their own demise, an ill-judged pass in from Glen Johnson placing Sterling under pressure.

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Sterling was robbed of the ball and Martin Olsson stormed upfield, flying into space vacated by Johnson. Caulker managed to block Ibrahimovic's first shot but the Paris St-Germain striker made no mistake with his second, stabbing it powerfully past Hart.

England eventually responded. Gerrard, playing his 100th match for the country, took responsibility, urging the team on and sweeping balls up field. Surrounded by so many youngsters, he played head-teacher on a school trip, organising and educating. His young Liverpool teammate Sterling was soon running at the Swedes as England gained momentum.

With 10 minutes remaining before the break, the teenager showed his ability to thread a pass, picking out Young with a fine pass from right to left. Young darted at Seb Larsson, deceiving him with a step-over and racing on.

Larsson failed to chase back but Young was long gone anyway, crossing left-footed for his United teammate Danny Welbeck to equalise from close range. Lightning struck twice. Again Sterling was the catalyst, earning a free kick that Gerrard took charge of. England's captain swept the ball into the box and there was Caulker sliding it past goalkeeper Andreas Isaksson. It was a special moment for the Spurs defender on his international debut.

Moments after scoring, the 20-year-old demonstrated the defensive side of his game, managing to block an Ibrahimovic shot.

England continued to apply the pressure after the break. Osman, neat and nimble, made a little run, cutting the ball back to Gerrard, whose shot cannoned off Jonas Olsson for a corner. Gerrard then returned the compliment, sliding the ball through to Osman, whose low shot was pushed behind by Isaksson.

Hodgson began to ring the changes, sending on Jack Wilshere to partner Gerrard, while Daniel Sturridge took over the front-running duties as Welbeck went left. Wilshere was immediately involved, nodding the ball down on the edge of his box, guiding it forward, his journey towards Sweden's half stopped illegally by Andreas Granqvist. Ryan Shawcross, Tom Huddlestone and Carl Jenkinson then arrived.

Shawcross was soon caught out. Anders Svensson drilled a long pass forward, Ibrahimovic eluded Shawcross with ease and thundered the ball past Hart. It was poor defending by Shawcross.

Hart was hardly covering himself with glory. Moments later, Ibrahimovic unleashed a 30m free kick that totally bamboozled Hart. England were deflated; their fans fell silent. Wilfried Zaha, wooed by England and the Ivory Coast, charged on, wearing boots with the cross of St George on them.

There was more in Sweden's new home. Goals pay the rent, and Ibrahimovic certainly chipped in with the overheads.